Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi Opens "My Health Conference 2016"

Sharjah, November 15, 2016

Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, inaugurated “My Health Conference 2016”, under the slogan “Let’s talk together for the benefit of our children’s health”. The two-day event was organized by the Health Education Department of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, in collaboration with the University of Sharjah

“Talking about children necessarily leads us to the future lifestyle that we seek to be the best for them. We need to focus on their development, as well as providing the appropriate conditions for their wellbeing with their families and in the educational institutions. We believe in upbringing them in a balanced atmosphere that contributes to the balance of their personalities, enriching their ways of thinking and supporting their being in the human world as individuals who have rights and duties”. She said

“Our meeting today in the sixth edition of this conference raises important issues about our children’s health. We aim to raise the level of awareness among parents to adopt the best ways and practices that promote the physical and psychological integrity. We also need to target all parties involved in children lives, mainly teachers, educators and supervisors at school to direct all activities and programs for the development of children”, Her Highness added.

“Children today face many different cultural issues of what we had been raised.

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These cultures sometimes threaten their health and make their lives more difficult of what we faced as individuals and families. We need to change the culture itself to protect the child’s health and his being. The health of our children is the responsibility of the community, and indeed the responsibility of the governments. Thus, we must prepare studies that reflect these challenges, so that we can develop the right programs for the child’s health and safety”, she concluded.

For her part, Eman Rashid Saif, Director of Health Education Department at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah said: “This conference would not have been possible without the great support of Her Highness and her focus on the child’s healthcare as a fundamental right guaranteed by civil modern laws”.

She pointed out that “the conference attracted more than 40 participants of the leading local, Arab and foreign physicians, experts and specialists in various areas of children’s physical and psychological healthcare. During the event, they will share their experiences with parents for the benefit of families and community.

Dr. Hamid Mjul Al Nuaimi, Director of the University of Sharjah, the strategic partner of the Conference praised the constructive cooperation between the University of Sharjah, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the Department of Health Education. He also focused on the university’s role in community services in accordance with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi is a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Sharjah.

Dr Ala Alwan, the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean said in a letter addressed to the conference: “The future of humanity depends on the children and their ability to achieve the optimum level of physical growth and psychological development. Achieving the maximum development and providing health services are not only basic needs of children, but they are authentic human rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the key instrument to protect these rights as it embodies the global consensus on standards that ensure the overall well-being of all children and young people”.

The conference is held for two days at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah. It aims to spread awareness on how to lead a healthy lifestyle, as well reducing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, ultimately making the UAE one of the best countries in the world in regards to quality health care.

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© Press Release 2016